By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday May 16, 2023
Yannick Hanfmann is breaking new ground at the age of 31. The German has reeled off multiple Top 10 wins in Rome to reach the quarterfinals from qualifying, and he now stands to blow his previous career-high ranking of 92 out of the water.
Hanfmann, who has defeated No.9-ranked Taylor Fritz and No.6-ranked Andrey Rublev en route to his first career Masters 1000 quarterfinal, is currently at No.63 in the ATP live rankings. After his 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 victory over Rublev, he awaits either Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.
101-ranked Hanfmann is into his 11th career quarterfinal, but this week for the first time he has reached the last eight of an event higher than a 250. The Karlsruhe, Germany native entered the week with one Top 10 victory to his name – he improves to 12-6 on the season.
“I don't have the words,” Hanfmann said on court after his win. “I mean, it was a grind. It was a battle. After three days consecutive playing for me, I was feeling a little tired today but once you step on the court, you have to tune it out. I played a really, really great match – to beat [Rublev] here you have to, and I did it, which is kind of incredible.”
Hanfmann, who has logged just over 80 matches at the ATP level, says he is feeling much more confident in his ability to take out elite players, especially on clay.
He owns a 9-11 lifetime record against the Top 50, but is 0-10 against the Top 50 on hard courts and grass courts combined.
“It's a great feeling, obviously, to step on the court against a player like him and it doesn't scare me anymore,” he said. “It used to maybe be like, ‘Okay, wow, I don't know how I can play with him’ but now I know.
“I'm old enough to see what I can do on the court, especially on clay. And yeah, I feel dangerous against anyone.”